"
"While with us it needs only gentle blood, you mean?" said Frederick,
good naturedly. "Well, we shall not argue over the matter; and,
particularly, since the Dalbergs have no fault to find with their
representative among the American Nobility; it's rather he who is ashamed
of his Valerian relatives."
"I am quite satisfied with the two I've met," I protested.
"So well, indeed, with one of them that you kissed her instantly," the
King laughed.
"And am glad, now, I did it. I shall never have another chance."
He shot a quick glance at me, as he opened the book and began to turn the
heavy parchment pages, which I could see were illumined in beautiful
colors and with strange, large lettering. Presently, these ended and the
characters seemed to be in ancient script, which, gradually grew more
modern. At one of these later pages, the King stopped and addressed me:
"You have said that, unless Hugo's rights and the Dalberg legitimacy of
his descendants were preserved, by special Decree, made during Hugo's
life, you would decline to return to Court." He paused a moment, then
went on: "It would almost seem that old Henry had some presentiment of a
certain stubborn-minded grandchild, for he provided for just such a
condition as you have made.
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